The impact of silvopastoral systems on water resources in the recharge zone of sub-watershed of Jabonal river, Costa Rica, was evaluated. The evaluated systems were overgrazed native pasture (ONP), native pastures with trees (NPT), improved pastures with trees (IPT), and managed secondary forest (MSF). The vegetation of the evaluated systems was characterised and the runoff and infiltration were estimated. The ONP presented the highest runoff, followed by NPT, whereas IPT and MSF had the lowest values (28, 27, 15 y 7%, respectively). The MSF presented the highest infiltration, whereas pastures with trees (IPT and NPT) allowed higher infiltration rates than ONP (3.54, 0.23, 0.19 and 0.07 cm/h, respectively). The cover tree was negatively correlated with runoff (r = -0.71; P=0.01) and positively with infiltration (r = 0.75; P=0.01). The silvopastoral systems, which have tree components, showed better hydrological benefits in the recharge zone due to a decreased on the runoff and increased infiltration, causing a better conservation of water in soil.